Price: $59.99 US

The Good

The Bad

Rubber and plastic hard to clean. Oni wants a wireless version.

Neither Ilene nor I were convinced that the apparent incredible engineering used to create the Pro Click 1.6 from Razer Pro Solutions would make any difference in how a mouse worked. While I have spent two weeks experiencing the Pro Click, Ilene used it for a couple of months. It has transformed both our beliefs behind what a difference using a high performance sensor can do for your mouse experience.

At $59.99, this mouse translates to about ?30 in the UK, which in comparison to offerings from Logitech and Microsoft is a bit of a price premium to pay. Some of you may wonder why you should spend so much on a mouse, but after you experience its precision, speed, and smooth scrolling, the price suddenly becomes reasonable.

Let Us talk Specs

The Pro Click 1.6 mouse features a 1600dpi sensor, 5.8 mega pixels per second bandwidth, 6400 frames per second, zero acoustic Teflon feet, 7 programmable buttons, always on mode, 16-bit data path, gold plated USB connector, and 7 foot cord. All this translates in to a super smooth mousing experience, and you can glide right across your desk with this highly engineered mouse. These Pro Click features deliver a unique and superior experience over other brands of mice that tout their gaming or pro capabilities.

This mouse simply glides over almost any surface. It is really smooth and the response and feedback when you roll this mouse over the Razer Pro - Pro Pad or just on your desk, the movement is delightfully precise. (Note, the Pro Pad is a $29.99 added option.) If you have ever tried to edit a small photo or used selection tools in Photoshop where precision is key, you know the frustration of a slipping mouse. The Razer Pro simply does not slip around and makes clicking on one pixel an easy reality.

Fits Right in Your Hand

Comfort and suitability is the absolute critical factor for any computer user. If a mouse does not sit right in your hand then it is no good. The comfort factor played a huge role for me in deciding whether or not I liked the Razer Pro. Ilene has small hands (size 7) and has had some carpal tunnel issues that never arose while using this mouse. The large rubber non-slip buttons, with a nice tactile response, means that you can become comfortable with this mouse no matter what mouse background you have. I can comfortably rest my hand on the mouse and just click without moving my fingers or having to make adjustments. Ilene's only complaint with the mouse is that the rubber buttons stain over time. Hers has some brownish discoloration from extended use.

Scrolling Feedback

The blue-lit scroll wheel in the middle has a tiered level scroll so you receive a response each time you scroll it. This is unlike other mice that have a smooth response, which is not the best response for gamers. First person shooters are probably the prime example where a smooth scroll wheel is not preferred. The middle scroll wheel is often used to switch weapons or select options. So, a response each time I scroll lets me know how fast or hard to scroll. If I want to get the next weapon, I just scroll it down one notch. Scrolling fast is still an option too. You do not have that feedback on a mouse with a smooth scroll.

Customizable

On the left and right sides of the mouse are four programmable shortcut keys. Two on each side that are barely visible to the naked eye. The two buttons on the left are positioned exactly right for your thumb to press either one. These are easily accessible and can be programmed to do a number of tasks such as scroll up and down windows. The buttons on the right hand side do not offer the same level of accessibility, unless you are left-handed, or have very flexible fingers.

Elegant

The Pro Click 1.6 is an elegant looking mouse. A soft blue glow emanates from the middle scroll wheel and the see-through sides. Since this is a laser mouse, the underside does not emit any light. The design fits in with the iPod generation of products. I use it with my MacBook Pro and it is an aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing experience.

The mouse specifications are mind-boggling and to be honest, may overwhelm some people. To reduce confusion, Razer Pro has a FAQ page detailing connection speed and baud rates, the encoder DPI, as well as in depth technical details about the drivers and how they work. They make a highly technical product as simple to use as a, ... well, a mouse!

The Razer PRO 1.6.5 software installs easily and does not collide with other mouse software installed. A simple interface in the System Preferences allows you to adjust scroll and click sensitivity of the buttons and scroll wheel. You can also customize the seven buttons with keystrokes or for left or right-handed use.

The bottom line is that the Razer Pro 1.6 is probably one of the best gaming and editing mice presently on the market. Both of us recommend it highly.

Editor's Note: While at Macworld Expo last January, the Razer Pro Solutions President gave me an exhaustive demonstration of the product. It was engaging and fun too!

This article in its original format with photographs taken by Oni can be found on The TechCast Network Blog:
http://www.techcastuk.co.uk/?p=145

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